May Vegetable And Herb Guide

1. Vegetable plants Tom Howard can purchase as young plants (May):

(Available as young plants – Garden Centres or gardenerskitchen.co.uk)

Courgette

• Growing Tips: Plant in rich, well-draining soil in a sunny spot. Keep soil moist but not soggy. Mulch around plants to conserve moisture.
• Pest Control: Watch for slugs, snails, and powdery mildew. Use organic slug pellets or barriers and water at the base to avoid mildew.

Cucumber

• Growing Tips: Needs warmth – best grown in a greenhouse or sunny, sheltered spot. Train up a trellis for better airflow and easier picking.
• Pest Control: Beware of cucumber beetles (rare in the UK) and aphids. Good ventilation and companion planting with nasturtiums can help.

Lettuce

• Growing Tips: Prefers cooler weather; plant in partial shade if summers are hot. Keep soil consistently moist.
• Pest Control: Slugs are the main issue – use beer traps, copper tape, or hand-picking at dusk.

Pepper

• Growing Tips: Needs lots of warmth and sun. Grow under cover (greenhouse or polytunnel) for best results. Stake plants as they grow.
• Pest Control: Watch for aphids and spider mites. Use a gentle soap spray or natural predators like ladybirds.

Spinach

• Growing Tips: Likes cool weather – sow in partial shade to avoid bolting. Keep soil moist. Choose bolt-resistant varieties in warmer spells.
• Pest Control: Flea beetles can nibble the leaves – use fine netting or fleece early in the season.

Aubergine

• Growing Tips: Needs plenty of warmth and light – greenhouse or sunny conservatory is ideal. Feed with a tomato fertilizer when fruits start setting.
• Pest Control: Keep an eye out for spider mites and aphids. Ensure good ventilation and avoid letting plants dry out completely.

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2. Vegetables Tom Howard can start now in May from seed or young plants:

(Not easily available as young plants – usually from seed or specialist suppliers such as Moles Seeds )

Strawberries (note: usually planted as young plants, seeds are tricky but possible)

• Growing Tips: Prefer to plant runners or young plants. Full sun and rich soil are ideal. Water well during fruiting.
• Pest Control: Birds love strawberries – use netting. Slugs can also be a problem – mulch with straw or use organic slug control.

Raspberries (typically planted from canes or young plants, not seeds)

• Growing Tips: Plant canes in well-drained soil, ideally against a fence or in rows with support wires. Cut down old canes after fruiting to encourage new growth.
• Pest Control: Watch for raspberry beetles and aphids. Pick off affected fruit and encourage beneficial insects.

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3. Herbs Tom Howard can grow from seed now (May):

Basil

• Growing Tips: Loves heat and hates cold – sow indoors first or wait until the weather is warm. Keep soil moist and pinch out flower heads to keep plants leafy.
• Pest Control: Watch for aphids and slugs. Grow in pots to make management easier.

Coriander

• Growing Tips: Likes cooler, not-too-hot weather. Sow in partial shade for best results. Harvest leaves frequently to prevent bolting.
• Pest Control: Can be prone to aphids. Companion planting with dill or chives can help deter pests.

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4. Vegetables continual sowing (succession sowing) in May and beyond:

Lettuce leaves

• Growing Tips: Sow small batches every 2–3 weeks for a steady supply through summer. Choose cut-and-come-again varieties.
• Pest Control: Slugs and snails – use organic methods like beer traps and night-time checks.

Spinach

• Growing Tips: Sow every few weeks until mid-summer, but be careful: spinach can bolt (flower early) in hot weather. Choose bolt-resistant varieties.
• Pest Control: Protect young seedlings with fleece to deter flea beetles. Keep soil moist to reduce stress.

Basil (Herb)

• Growing Tips: Succession sowing every few weeks keeps a fresh supply. Keep harvesting leaves to encourage more growth.
• Pest Control: As above – aphids and slugs are the main enemies.

Coriander (Herb)

• Growing Tips: Sow every 2–3 weeks. Harvest regularly. Sow in part shade if weather is hot to slow bolting.
• Pest Control: Watch for aphids. Encourage ladybirds and hoverflies in your garden.

Plant	Growing Tips	Pest Control
Courgette	Rich, well-draining soil, sunny spot, keep moist, mulch.	Slugs, snails, powdery mildew. Water at base.
Cucumber	Needs warmth, support/trellis, sunny spot.	Aphids, cucumber beetles. Good airflow.
Lettuce	Cooler weather preferred, partial shade if hot, keep moist.	Slugs – beer traps, copper tape, hand-pick.
Pepper	Needs warmth and sun, best under cover, stake plants.	Aphids, spider mites – soap spray, natural predators.
Spinach	Cool weather, partial shade, moist soil, bolt-resistant varieties.	Flea beetles – netting or fleece early on.
Aubergine	Warmth and light needed, greenhouse ideal, feed with tomato fertilizer.	Spider mites, aphids – ensure good ventilation.
Strawberries	Plant runners/young plants, full sun, rich soil, water during fruiting.	Birds – netting; Slugs – straw mulch.
Raspberries	Plant canes, well-drained soil, use support wires, cut old canes after fruiting.	Raspberry beetles, aphids – encourage beneficials.
Basil	Loves heat, sow indoors or warm weather, moist soil, pinch out flowers.	Aphids and slugs – grow in pots if possible.
Coriander	Cooler weather preferred, sow in part shade, harvest often to prevent bolting.	Aphids – plant with dill or chives.
Lettuce leaves (succession)	Sow small batches every 2–3 weeks, cut-and-come-again varieties.	Slugs and snails – organic traps and barriers.
Spinach (succession)	Sow every few weeks, bolt-resistant varieties, moist soil.	Protect seedlings with fleece, moist soil.
Basil (succession)	Sow every few weeks, keep harvesting leaves to encourage growth.	Aphids, slugs – as above for basil.
Coriander (succession)	Sow every 2–3 weeks, harvest regularly, part shade if hot.	Aphids – encourage ladybirds and hoverflies.